Next Teens Take The Met! Set for May 20 Popular Semi-Annual Event Introduces Teens to Spectrum of Cultural Activities Available Citywide; Marks International Museum Day Our Coverage Sponsored by Surreal Eyewear
Monday, May 16, 2016
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More than 2,000 teens and 40 youth and cultural organizations from New York's five boroughs will convene at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Friday, May 20, from 5 to 8 pm, for Teens Take The Met!—an innovative teen-centered, Museum-wide evening of creativity. The twice-yearly program, which began in October 2014, introduces teens to the spectrum of activities available to them across the City at cultural institutions large and small. The evening is free for all teens (age 13 or older) with a middle- or high-school ID, and features art making, music, performance, gallery activities, films, a dance party, and more.
The event is made possible by Bonnie J. Sacerdote and the Gray Foundation.
WNYC is a media partner of Teens Take The Met!
Inspired by the Museum's collection of 5,000 years of art from around the world, on view in the galleries around them, as well as their ongoing work with teens, the partner organizations will present a variety of interactive experiences, often led by their own young interns, members, volunteers, or staff. The schedule for the evening will include a mega-weaving activity with The Met's Artist in Residence, Peter Hristoff; poetry- and songwriting workshops with the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development; live performances; digital music-making; drama and dance workshops; and much more. (The list of partnering organizations is below.)
Sign Language interpretation, assistive listening devices, sighted guides, large print and Braille information, and a designated quiet space will be available, as will free snacks and a photo booth.
Teens will pick up their special-event wristbands at either of the Museum's Fifth Avenue entrances—at 81st Street or 82nd Street. The wristbands will provide youth access to teen-only activities throughout the building. The event will unfold throughout the galleries and into a teen-only dance party in the Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education, where a DJ will rock the crowd with music while live projections of audience-created posts on Instagram and Twitter will cover the walls.
The May 20 Teens Take The Met! evening is part of the worldwide celebration of International Museum Day 2016, organized by ICOM (International Council of Museums). The day is an occasion to raise awareness on the importance of museums in the development of society. While May 18 has been designated International Museum Day, events associated with it can take place on one day, weekend, or week in May. This year's theme is "Museums and Cultural Landscapes." More information is available on the ICOM website.
"The goal of Teens Take The Met! is to create a safe space for young people to be their creative and curious selves," commented Sandra Jackson-Dumont, The Met's Frederick P. and Sandra P. Rose Chairman of Education. "Young people are excited about art and culture! The thousands of teens who show up for this event are a testament to the enthusiasm of this audience. We appreciate the incredibly positive response we have had from them, their parents and teachers, and our very generous community partners. And this year, we are very happy to include our program on the map of events taking place worldwide for International Museum Day. Teens Take The Met! complements the Museum's already-extensive programs for young people ages 11 to 18, such as paid high-school internships, free art-making workshops, week-long creative intensives, career labs, and year-round gallery activities."
The event will be featured on The Met's website, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, andTwitter via the hashtag #metteens.
Additional offerings for teens are described on The Met website.
Teens Take The Met! is a twice-yearly event hosted by the Museum. Since its launch in fall 2014, it has reached more than 9,000 teens.
Adults accompanying their teens to The Met on May 20 will enjoy MetFridays programming in the galleries: a Museum Highlights tour or Drop-In Drawing, free with Museum admission. At the Great Hall Balcony Bar, where cocktails and appetizers are available for purchase, teen ensembles The Wolf Gang and The New Amsterdam Trio will play works by Mozart, Bach, Scriabin, and Beethoven.
The Peter Hristoff Artist Residency is made possible by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.
Community Partners
*Visit these partners at the event!
